232 the entomologist's record. 



In 1907, we first observed Brenthis selene at Goschenen, the species 

 being abundant on July 29th on the slopes just above Goschenen, 

 between the Sprengi-Briicke and Teufels-Brixcke. Many of the 

 specimens were worn, but some were still in good condition. They 

 were Hying in the afternoon sun, on a steep bank with an abundance 

 of flowers— scabious, knapweed, hieracia, etc. — on which they rested, 

 and as the sun went off the bank, many took up a position on the 

 summit of a flower, drew their wings up, and slowly slid back into a 

 position of rest, but, strangely, an hour or two afterwards scarcely an 

 individual was to be found in this position, nor did continued 

 searching discover them. The females were less immediately affected 

 by the absence of the sun than the males, and some minutes after the 

 sun had gone off the bank a female was observed busy egg-laying on 

 a small species of violet of dwarf habit, common here among the 

 short grass, eyebright, gentians, etc. She was watched most carefully 

 flying low down among the herbage, and observed to settle on a culm of 

 grass, down which she slid, feeling carefully with the ovipositor as she 

 went, finally depositing an egg about 1-J-in. above the ground, on a 

 stem of grass, several violet-leaves being quite near the spot where the 

 egg was laid. This was followed by a similar operation on the part 

 of the same female. The first thought was whether the egg could 

 possibly be the hybernating stage at this altitude, but one suspects 

 not. Has any one information on the egg-laying of this species ? 

 Brenthis selene was also found sparingly in the wood at the back of 

 Goschenen, at the entrance to the Goschenen -Thai, with 11. amathiisia, 

 on July 80th and 31st, and, on the afternoon of the first-named day, 

 in dull Aveather, a single female was found asleep, seated on the top 

 of a flower with its wings drawn well over its back, at the very 

 entrance to the level piece of ground leading up to the Damma-Gletscher 

 Hotel. 



Brenthis euphrosyne was first observed on July 30th, on the steep 

 flower-clad slope just before reaching Andermatt, from Goschenen. 

 It was found about noon flying with a number of quite Alpine 

 species, e.g., Erebia pharte, A.', euryale, Colias phicomone, etc., and some 

 other less-expected species, e.g., Lycaena arion, Cupido minima, etc. 

 It was then seen on August 2nd, 1907, flying on the slopes on the 

 outskirt of the pine-wood between Madrano and Brugnasco. This 

 was a splendid butterfly corner, Avith a large variety of species. Two 

 or three worn males Avere noted, and a female Avas Avatched as it 

 busily inspected the leaves of a violet groAving there, and several 

 abortive attempts at egg laying Avere obseiwed. On searching the 

 plants a single egg Avas found on the underside of one of the leaves, 

 but as that had already changed colour, it had evidently been laid 

 some days. On the folloAving day other specimens Avere observed 

 flying on the open slopes Avell aboA T e the pine-Avood lying above 

 Airolo as one makes the ascent of the St. Gothard Pass, and near the 

 entrance to the Val Tremola. Tavo females Avere A'ery busy inspecting 

 the violets, but although older eggs were soon discovered, the opera- 

 tion of egg-laying Avas not observed. On August 5th and 6th the 

 species Avas unexpectedly found at a much lower eleA'ation, fairly 

 abundant but worn, on the floAvery slopes that edge an alder Avood 

 near the little bridge betAA-een Airolo and Piotta, flying amongst 

 crowds of Melanargia galathea, Dryas paphia, Melitaea didyma 



